United adds Ibiza, Valencia to Spain network
United Airlines announced its largest international expansion ever, adding ten new cities and three new routes across Europe and Asia. Flights from Newark to Ibiza and Valencia will begin summer 2027, marking the carrier’s 9th Spanish destination.
United Airlines revealed its most extensive international growth to date, announcing ten new cities and three new routes spanning Europe and Asia. The expansion includes direct service from Newark to Ibiza and Valencia for the 2027 summer season, bringing the airline’s Spanish destinations to nine.
The Ibiza service will launch on 31 May 2027, operating every fourth day of the week. Valencia will open a few days later, on 2 June 2027, with a schedule of three flights per week. These two routes will be the only ones operated by United to the respective cities.
During the event, United also unveiled the newest aircraft in its international fleet, the A321-XLR, dubbed Born to Explore. The model is slated to begin domestic operations in September and will start international flights on 1 December, first serving routes from Washington Dulles to Amsterdam and Dublin. The A321-XLR’s 8,700-kilometre range allows United to operate trans-Atlantic services with a smaller, more fuel-efficient aircraft, a fact highlighted in the airline’s recent stats.
Prior to this announcement, United had added Santiago de Compostela to its network on 27 May. The carrier already serves Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Bilbao and Tenerife.
The new expansion also introduces direct flights from San Francisco to Okinawa and Toulouse; from Washington to Luxembourg; and from Newark to Marseille, Terceira, Ljubljana, Olbia and Catania. These routes will be added to the schedule in the upcoming fixtures.
United noted that it has added 58 international destinations since 2017, bringing its total to over 160 worldwide.
Valencia will regain a direct link to New York after a 15-year hiatus, with United resuming service in June 2027. The city will receive up to three weekly flights, all operated on the A321-XLR. The airline plans to purchase more than 250 A321 aircraft in the near future.
Paula Llobet, Tourism Councillor and President of the Fundación Visit València, said, "Recovering the direct connection with New York is a historic moment for our connectivity and allows us to advance in one of our main objectives: growing in long-haul markets and attracting higher-value tourism, such as the American market, with greater spending and average stay, and that also travels year-round." The first Ibiza flight will depart on 31 May 2027.
